QOV#3

Linking with Heather at "Needlework Tuesday"

This is the last of three Quilts Of Valor for Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. They will be shipped off to be bound by another quilter and ready for presentation at the reunion in Washington DC in August.

Although I use Quilter's Dream products all the time, this was the first for using Quilter's Dream Puff batting - it quilted up easily and made the  freehand Edge to Edge peacock feathers look really pretty. If you want a poly batting with some loft I recommend Dream Puff.

 The backing is pieced and also shows the quilting detail nicely.

The thread is Superior So Fine in a neutral shade.

More Quilter's Eye Candy!

 Another example of fine piecework, applique and quilting

 Who can ever resist a cute Santa, raw edge applique is very popular. Here the quilter added color  and shading with Tsukineko inks

 And here is his boot, beautifully quilted.

 I thought the cactus flowers were lovely…...

 here showing some detail.

 This flower caught my eye

 And this one also - a little whimsy, notice the tortoises around the border..

 Cleverly constructed and quilted a southwestern horse

Gale and I both admired this little bird, hand dyed fabrics from the quilter herself

 A more traditional quilt…...

 with fine piecing, applique and quilting and crystals, very popular this year

 Adorable embroidered trees almost make me want to spend the time to work with my little embroidery machine, almost but not quite! Lots of sparkly threads enhance the quilt and crystals too.

 I will be content to admire others endeavors.

 Traditional Irish Chain…..

 with spectacular quilting.

 "My Stars"

 More gorgeous quilting

 Simple design, effective placement of color…….

combined with terrific quilting makes for a delightful picture.

 This one gets a "wow"!

 Just look at the tiny detailed quilting!

 Very effective use of color gradation

 Originally I saw this idea in Gwen Baggett's book called  "Farthing Quilts", where the picture is divided into four parts each panel being made by a different person using their own interpretation of the colors. Here it appears that six daring quilters have contributed their sections for this grand panorama.

 I took several photos of this beautiful quilt to show the variation in quilting.

We spent about four hours browsing the show, well worth the $10 admission, if it doesn't inspire the artist in you I don't what will! We came away excited to try new ideas and develop new skills, and although I may never reach the lofty heights of some of these quilters I will have fun trying!

Finally my only purchase, pincushions from the Day of the Dead booth, I bought two, one for each of us to remember this adventure.

AQG Quilt Show

My friend Gale [talented longarmer from CO] and I went to the show today and had a wonderful few hours viewing quilts and checking out the vendors. I think the highlight was meeting the amazing Renae Haddadin at her well stocked booth with a full array of her wonderful tools so Gale was able to purchase just the LA rulers she has needed for her work.

Renae [on the left] is a very friendly and down to earth lady and happy to share information and tips on longarming, we were delighted to have met this quilter whose beautiful work we have long admired.
There were too many adorable and enticing patterns in the vendor booths and Gale bought a few! Our favorite booth was that of Jane Tenorio-Coscarelli with her clever, fun Day of the Dead fabrics and patterns.

This is just one of the many irresistible designs, Gale has tasked me with making her an apron from it!

The giraffe wall hanging pattern below was another too cute to pass up - Gale and I hope to get together in April to make one each.

The background is one piece of fabric while the giraffe is all raw edge applique and the entire piece is quilted in straight lines in both directions, it should be fun.

Next came the actual quilt show! First the fabric challenge quilts, below are four that really caught our attention.

I love this elegant elephant

Aren't they smashing colors?

Then some modern quilts, it was interesting how many were on display and also how we were attracted to them, both the design and the clever quilting. Modern quilting has really taken off the past few years.

I am enlarging some of these to show quilting detail

Cute bunny and imaginative quilting

 This was interesting, very 3 dimensional so different it really stood out

 This one made me wonder if that's what an LSD trip is like, psychedelic mushrooms?! The judges liked it!
The next two quilts are displayed by a friend so I was delighted to see her work and the ideas she is currently exploring.

 Up close you do not see the design you have to step away to get the picture.

 Very clever with all the faces and ties and the wording quilted into the design.

Interesting embellishments, "Good taste is the worst vice ever invented" it says!

 A colorful city scape

 This one is for all my "sister" quilters, hear us roar quilt!

 Too cute for words, it's called  "Forbidden Fruit" from the "Wicked Appetite Series"!

 This one appealed to me simple design and gorgeous modern quilting.

 Another modern quilt with interesting angles and a dash of color, more terrific quilting.

 And more lovely quilting

 Simple design of the trees and understated quilting

Clever piecing no quilting required.

Tomorrow I will show the remainder of the quilts I photographed, mostly more traditional and some super grand prize winners.